- Is the Haval H9 a good car?
- Who is the Haval H9 a good car for?
- Is the Haval H9 a good first car?
- Is the H9 a good family car?
- Is there a hybrid H9 model?
- What’s it like to drive?
- Reviewer’s opinion
- What does it look like?
- What is the Haval H9 like inside?
- Standard features
- Price and specs
- Which is the cheapest H9?
- Watch our video review of the Haval H9 here
- Similar Cars to the Haval H9:
When people think about large, luxury SUVs, Haval doesn't immediately spring to mind, but the H9 is a surprisingly good alternative to more mainstream offerings.
In this article:
Is the Haval H9 a good car?
It is a good car, at a good price, with plenty of standard luxury features.
Who is the Haval H9 a good car for?
The H9 is a good car for adventurous folks, large families, or both!
“In essence, this is a fully-equipped Prado competitor, but with a mid-level Fortuner price tag”, says Martin Pretorius, who reviewed this model.
Is the Haval H9 a good first car?
Given its size and price, it’s probably not ideal for new drivers.
Is the H9 a good family car?
It’s ideal for families because it’s so well-specified, comfortable, and safe. The H9 has a stability control system and 6 airbags and was awarded a competitive 4-star ANCAP safety rating.
Is there a hybrid H9 model?
In SA we only have one H9 variant, and it’s a turbo-petrol one.
The Haval H9 features a turbocharged 4-cylinder petrol engine with 180 kW and 350 Nm, mated to a slick-shifting 8-speed ZF automatic gearbox (with steering wheel-mounted paddle shifters) and full-time all-wheel drive with an electronically-controlled front/rear torque split. It’s primarily rear-wheel driven, until the electronic control unit decides that the front wheels could also do with some motive power, in which case it starts shuffling the torque between the axles. – Martin Pretorius
What’s it like to drive?
Reviewer’s opinion
Whether cruising on the freeway, pottering through small towns, dodging potholes, winding along a mountain pass in the mist and rain, or driving in deep sand, the H9 didn’t miss a beat. The steering system deserves a special mention here: while it’s low on effort and feedback, it’s accurate and quick of response, with a well-judged steering ratio which lends a surprising level of agility for such a big vehicle.
In fact, it’s all-round abilities were very impressive – it simply buckled down to get the job done. Performance was about as sprightly as you’d expect of a 2.3-ton vehicle with 180 kW (adequate but not really quick), and the handling left no doubt that this is a tall, heavy vehicle.
That said, it never felt lacking in overtaking urge, and it handled twisty roads as well as anyone could expect from a body-on-frame SUV. It’s not sporty at all, mind you, but its handling compares very well to other vehicles of this type. Ride comfort is a particular strong suit, with most of the chassis tremors inherent in this kind of configuration being well-insulated from the cabin. – Martin Pretorius
What does it look like?
What is the Haval H9 like inside?
“The cabin is also well-appointed, nicely trimmed, and solidly screwed together, with plenty of soft-touch plastics in the door trims and dash top, and a high-quality feel to its design and material choices. Overall noise levels are also reasonably subdued, unless the small engine is wound up through the gears, when it emits a somewhat gravelly sound which is rather at odds with the overall impression of refinement.” – Martin Pretorius
Standard features
- Electrically adjustable front seats with ventilation and a massage feature
- Semi-autonomous parking
- Digital gauge cluster
- Embedded navigation
- Three-zone climate control
- Low-range transfer case with selectable driving modes (Sport, Sand, Mud, and Snow).
Price and specs
Which is the cheapest H9?
There is only one model on Sale in SA, at R699 900. It’s the H9 2.0T Luxury model.
Watch our video review of the Haval H9 here
Competitors
Similar Cars to the Haval H9:
Ford Everest
Mitsubishi Pajero Sport
Toyota Fortuner
Ané AlbertseAné was bitten by the motoring bug at a very young age. Her mom recalls her sitting in her stroller as a 3-year old, naming every car that came past. She was working as a freelance motoring journalist for publications such as Rapport and City Press, when AutoTrader nabbed her for good. She lives in the Western Cape with her two kids and two cats.View News & Reviews
Keyword: Everything you need to know about the Haval H9